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Levels
Intermediate (6-8)
Advanced (9-12+)
Material Type
Activity/Hands-on
Book
Diagram/Illustration
Heliophysics Big Ideas
Big Idea 1.2 – The Sun is active…
Big Idea 1.3 – The Sun’s energy drives Earth’s climate…
Big Idea 2.1 – Life on Earth has evolved with complex diversity…
Big Idea 2.2 – The Sun defines the space…
Big Idea 2.3 – The Sun is the primary source of light…
Big Idea 3.1 – The Sun is made of churning plasma…
Big Idea 3.3 – Our Sun, like all stars, has a life cycle.
NGSS
ESS1 – Earth’s Place in the Universe
ESS2 – Earth’s Systems
ESS3 – Earth and Human Activity
PS1 – Matter and its Interactions
PS2 – Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
PS3 – Energy
Heliophysics Topics
Aurora
Climate Change
Corona
Coronal Mass Ejection
Energy
Habitable Zone
Heliosphere
Light
Lunar Eclipse
Magnetosphere
Solar Cycle
Solar Eclipse
Solar Wind
Space Weather
Stellar Evolution
Sun
Sunspot
Heliophysics Missions
Voyager
Parker Solar Probe
Material Cost per Learner
Free
Language
Multiple Languages
Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color is a booklet that blends art and science, making complex heliophysics concepts accessible. A collaborative work between the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team (HEAT), the coloring book aims to educate readers about the Sun and its influence on Earth and the solar system.
The book covers various topics related to the Sun-Earth system, including: the Sun, Solar Magnetic Fields, and Solar Wind; the Earth, Auroras, Eclipses, Seasons, and Earth’s Climate; the Universe, Habitable Zones, the Solar System, and the Life Cycle of Stars. A significant feature of the book is its inclusion of Alaska Native languages, providing words related to the Sun and sky from cultures such as Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, Central Yupik/Cup’ik, Iñupiaq, Lower Koyukon Athabascan, Ten Kenaga’/Lower Tanana Athabascan, Ts’msyen/Sm’algyax, and Xaad kil/Haida.
The coloring book is designed for both educators and learners, aims to spark curiosity and creativity, and is aligned with the Framework for Heliophysics Education (FHE). A glossary of science terms is provided at the end.
This project is the result of collaboration between NASA HEAT, the UAF Geophysical Institute, and Arctic and Earth SIGNS, a UAF International Arctic Research Center project also funded through NASA’s SciAct program.
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